Panasonic GX85 versus Fujifilm X-E3

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 (called Panasonic GX80 in some regions) and the Fujifilm X-E3 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively,
in April 2016 and September 2017. Both the GX85 and the X-E3 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on a Four Thirds (GX85) and an APS-C sensor. The Panasonic has a resolution of 15.8 megapixel, whereas the Fujifilm provides 24 MP.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Panasonic GX85 and the Fujifilm X-E3. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. You can also toggle the display to switch to a percentage comparison if you prefer that the measures are being expressed in relative terms (in this case, the camera on the left – the GX85 – represents the basis or 100 percent across all the size and weight measures).

Body view (GX85 on the left)

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Fujifilm X-E3 is somewhat larger (3 percent) than the Panasonic GX85. However, the X-E3 is markedly lighter (21 percent) than the GX85. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the GX85 nor the X-E3 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist.
You can find an overview of optics for the two cameras in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (GX85) and the Fujinon X Lens Catalog (X-E3). Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside
a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another
camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table.
Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The GX85 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 11 percent) than the X-E3, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget.
Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available.
Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting
and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be
found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Panasonic GX85 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Fujifilm X-E3
an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the X-E3 is 64 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.5. The sensor in the GX85 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the X-E3 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Sensor size

With 24MP, the X-E3 offers a higher
resolution than the GX85 (15.8MP), but the X-E3 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of
3.92μm versus 3.77μm for the GX85) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the X-E3 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 5 months) than the GX85, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

Sensor resolution

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (4K/30p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder.
However, the one in the GX85 offers a higher resolution than the one in the X-E3 (2765k vs 2360k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic GX85 and Fujifilm X-E3 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras. If you need more detail on the specs, you can find comprehensive listings, for example, in the dpreview camera hub.

Both the GX85 and the X-E3 are current models that good online retailers will have in stock. You can check the latest prices, for example,
at amazon. The GX85 replaced the earlier Panasonic GX7, while the X-E3 followed on from the Fujifilm X-E2S.

Summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Panasonic GX85 better than the Fujifilm X-E3 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85:

More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.

Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.

Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization build-in.

More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (11 percent cheaper at launch).

More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in April 2016).

Reasons to prefer the Fujifilm X-E3:

More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 15.8MP), which boosts linear resolution by 26%.

Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.

Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 89g or 21 percent) and is thus easier to take along.

Longer lasting: Gets more shots (350 versus 290) out of a single battery charge.

More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 5 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the GX85 comes out slightly ahead of the X-E3 (6 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features.

GX85 06:05 X-E3

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the GX85 or the X-E3 handle or perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites. The full reviews are available, respectively, at cameralabs.com, dpreview.com, ephotozine.com, imaging-resource.com, and photographyblog.com.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when refering to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other comparisons

If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored. If you do not see the camera that you are looking for, kindly get in touch, and I will try to add information on that model to the database.